A high-ranking Lillooet police officer made his first court appearance on allegations he stole two guns and grow-op equipment from an RCMP evidence locker. Sgt. Darrell Robinson is facing eight charges — four each of breach of trust by transferring an exhibit and theft.

He is accused of stealing two firearms and two pieces of marijuana-growing equipment — a generator and growing nutrients — that had been seized as police exhibits. It is believed some or all of the stolen exhibits had been ordered destroyed.

Police began investigating Robinson in February 2015, after an audit of the Lillooet detachment’s evidence lockup revealed improper processing and handling of exhibits. Robinson, 51, was suspended with pay. In addition to the criminal charges, he is also facing an RCMP internal investigation. Robinson is the second former member of the Lillooet detachment facing criminal charges in connection with items allegedly taken from the exhibit locker. Cst. Tony Lee was charged with one count of unauthorized possession of a firearm and two counts of theft after an internal audit and review last year.

Sgt. Darrell Robinson

Crown Counsel has approved eight charges against Sgt. Darrell Robinson while at the Lillooet RCMP. Robinson has been charged with four (4) counts relating to breach of trust by converting or transferring, without lawful authority, an exhibit contrary to Section 122 of the Criminal Code and another four (4) counts relating to theft of conversion contrary to Section 334(b) of the Criminal Code. The charges relate to four exhibits and incidents between May 2010 and July 2012.

He had been the officer in charge of the Lillooet RCMP detachment — the highest ranking Mountie in the community. Lillooet is located 170 kilometres west of Kamloops. Robinson is scheduled to make his first appearance in Lillooet Provincial Court on June 14, 2016.